The Unfinished Case// A Sherlock Story

VI

"Sherlock, where are we going?" John asks, curious about what his clever buddy is up to as they walk together through the field.

"Why John, we are going to Scotland Yard!" Sherlock says clasping his hands together excitedly as they stand beside the open road.

A few hours later, the sun has already set, everyone was retiring from a long day's work, and Sherlock and John have arrive at Scotland Yard ready for whatever will strike them next.

"Show me the evidence and the pictures you took of the crime scene," Sherlock says, walking into the office building filled with cubicles of the employees and officers.

"Sherlock, you can't just barge in here like you own the place!" Donovan yells at Sherlock as she walks after him. Sherlock continues walking at a fast pace not bothering to dodge any of the employees who crowd the small room.

"Sorry, Sherlock," a soft melodic voice apologises as they bump into Sherlock, well, more like the other way around. Sherlock pauses for a second as his eyes travel to the voice of the person walking away from him.

"Who was that?" Sherlock asks pointing his finger at the moving figure who disappears behind the wall.

"Who?" Donovan asks

"That person"

"Sherlock, there's no one there"

"Yes, no one is there because they just left, now tell me who was that person who just bumped into me"

"Sherlock, no one bumped into you," John says timidly as everyone around the office stare in silence at Sherlock's bizarre behaviour. Sherlock closes his eyes for a second, massaging his temples with his fingers. The world seemed to be crashing down on him as he feels as though he is going more insane by the minute. The feeling felt familiar as he remembers the last time he felt anxious, crazed....excited. Sherlock opens his eyes rapidly and runs after the mysterious person, needing to know more about any small detail he can scavenge about the vigilante.

"John, follow Lestrade and don't let him leave your sight. There's something I have to do," Sherlock calls, running out the doors of the metropolitan police office. He turns his head around to see the mysterious figure dissapearing around the corner. Quickly he bursts into a sprint and chases after the figure. He turns left into a narrow path only to be met with a dead end.

"Sir," A timid voice speaks from behind Sherlock. Sherlock spins around to be met with the mysterious stranger. The stranger had long blonde hair and brown eyes, nothing exotic but nothing plain, not what he pictured. Something about her was off to Sherlock though. Her voice did not quite match her appearance but it did at the same time.

"Who are you," Sherlock asks, taking an intimidating step towards her. She squeels at Sherlock's sharp movement and jumps back slightly.

"I-I-I'm you're next-t-t challenge," She says sticking out her hand an envolope clutched within. Sherlock snatches the letter quickly, but unlike the first time, he also grabs her wrist before she can make any movements to leave.

"Not so fast. Who gave this to you?" Sherlock asks seriously as he stares at her. She doesn't make any eye contact with him showing him how uncomfortable she was in such social interactions.

"I-I-I don't know, a pretty lady," She replies trying to wiggle out of his grip.

"You too?" Sherlock says frustrated as he pulls on his hair. The girls demeanour changes within a micro-second but even our beloved detective didn't notice before she begins to quiver again.

"I-I-I'm going to go..ya..okay" The girl stutters before running away frantically.

Sherlock stares at the strange girl as she dissapears around the corner. He then opens up the letter to see another beautifully written letter.

" Feed me and I live, yet give me a drink and I die

I live down below where no one visits
Long forgotten but will never be forgiven
One man came to visit and soon many more
But I am hidden and forgotten is my name

you're gonna have to solve this one quick
for this one is not a trick
And time is running out"
- C. R

"What does this mean" Sherlock ponders. The whole mastermind game she created, what is the final play. Sherlock thinks about the answer to the riddle before the sounds of sirens cut through the calm air. Fire trucks. Sherlock rush out onto the street to see five fire trucks drive past him.

Fire.

"The answer's fire. What fire? What could she possibly set on fire?-" Sherlock thought before he realises.

Long forgotten.

Visited by a man once.

Live down below.

He realizes what he forgotten. What's under his nose but he was too blind to realise. The place that supports the building but never used.

221C Baker Street.

The place where Moriarty once snuck in. Who else can be behind this than Moriarty himself.

Or is there more like him....